On its surface, iBooks appears simple, but the more you add to your library, the more your questions will pile up. Get answers, plus learn about ebook-reading features that are not immediately obvious. If you need advice on collecting and reading ebooks iBooks for 10.9 Mavericks or want to become more adept with iBooks on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, this ebook is for you.

Whether you're catching up on your favorite authors, poring over textbooks, or perusing work-related documents, self-described readaholic and Mac expert Sharon Zardetto teaches you the ABCs of iBooks. Sharon helps you optimize your onscreen reading environment, use the navigational controls (which differ depending on which type of ebook you're reading!), manage bookmarks, highlight important passages, make notes, and more. You'll also learn about auto-downloading and re-downloading purchases from Apple's iBooks Store, and where to find ebooks outside the iBooks Store.

As you turn the virtual pages of Take Control of iBooks you'll read about:

Ebook file formats: Here at Take Control, we often hear from people who aren't sure about the differences among the major ebook file formats--PDF, EPUB, Mobipocket, and Multi-Touch. If you're struggling with these basics (the difference between a hardback and a paperback is easier to understand), Sharon sets you straight, and helps you understand how the format of an ebook affects its behavior and features in iBooks.

Mavericks mysteries: Discover what iBooks on your Mavericks Mac does with any ebooks that were previously in iTunes, where your library is located, and how to add EPUB, PDF, and Multi-Touch ebooks to iBooks.

Synchronizing details: Find directions for syncing your Books library among your Apple devices. In addition to keeping copies of your ebooks on all your devices, you can sync your custom collection names and your position within any given book, as well as your bookmarks, highlights, and notes.

Book acquisition: Whether you buy from Apple's iBooks Store, buy from a third party that sells ebooks in EPUB or PDF format (such as Take Control!), or make your own titles (such as with Apple's free iBooks Author--see Take Control of iBooks Author for help), you'll find out how to populate iBooks with your ebooks.

Collection management: If you don't have time to "shelve" your ebooks, don't worry, because Sharon teaches techniques for taking advantage of iBooks' built-in organization and search function. But, the persnickety arrangers among us will learn how to further organize an iBooks library.

Control your reading environment: Just as you may read best in the real world with the right lighting (and a bowl of grapes on hand, with a cat at your feet), you can also optimize your onscreen setup. You'll find tips for adjusting the font and type size, changing the page color, reading full-screen on the Mac, and even how to best "turn" the page.

Enjoy the "e" in ebook: All those tiny electrons running around in your device can do more than display text on a screen. Sharon describes how to highlight passages, make in-book notes, insert virtual bookmarks, look up a selection in the dictionary (or on the Web--great for looking up a historical character or event that's mentioned in passing!) and more.

A special chapter, "Explore Multi-Touch Books," guest-written by ebook expert Michael E. Cohen, helps you fully understand what's so special about Apple's Multi-Touch format and makes sure you can enjoy the special features, such as Study Cards, available in those ebooks.

Sharon Zardetto

Sharon Zardetto has been writing about the Macintosh professionally since 1984, including nearly a thousand articles in Macintosh magazines and over 20 books. She's best known for writing several editions of The Macintosh Bible, along with The Mac Almanac.